Hydraulic air-motor



J. A. KNOWLTON. HYDRAULIC Am MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI6, I919- Patented June 8, 1920.

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J. A. KNOWLTON.

HYDRAULIC AIR MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED Aucme. 1919.

Patentd June 8, 1920.

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J. A. KNOWLTON.

HYDRAULIC AIR MOTOR.

APPLICATION man AUG.I6. 1919.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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J. A. KN'OWLTON.

HYDRAULIC AIR MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6, 1919.

1,342,682. Patented June 8, 1920.

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HYDRAULIC AIR MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJG. 1919. 1,342,682. Patented June 8, 1920.

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John/J1. .Knowlton,

J. A. KNOWLTON.

HYDRAULLC MR MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJS; 1919.

21,342,682. Patented June 8, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 a: 61 34s t! 65 Inventor: JohnjlJfnowlton,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JOHN A. KNOWLTON, 0F DORCHESTEB, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-SIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL TIDE POWER 00., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AN ORGANIZATION OF MASSA- CHUSET'IS.

HYDRAULIC AIR-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l atented June 8, 1920.

Application filed August 16, 1919. Serial No. 318,063.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. KNowLroN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Airllotors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to motors and particularly to machines of this description in which the rise and fall of the tide is utilized to compress air and the air thus compressed is adapted to be utilized to drive power generating machinery.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby power may be continuously delivered from a simple and efficient apparatus having means for compressing air an storing it under pressure in a tank or reservoir from which it may be delivered to drive a motor.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference to the lescription of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the F 3 represents a vertical section on line 3.3 on Fig. Fl". 1 represents a horizontal section on line on Fig. 8. I

l represents a vertical sectlon on line Figs. 2 and 3.

6 represents a vertical section on line Fig. 4:, and

4 represents a diagram of the electric circuits for operating the gate actuating devices.

onnilar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the draw1ngs, 10 is the open water of a bay nrwlnch the tide rises and falls and 11 1s an inclosed basin communicating therewith.

A dam 12 is built across the narrow passage connecting the open body of water 10 and the basin 11, and this dam is provided with two gates 13 and 1 1 adapted to close passages through said dam.

Within the basin 11, adjacent the dam 12, is built walled inclosure 15. at one side of which is a sluiccway 16 which communicates at all times with the basin 11 and with the open water 19 when the gate 13 is open.

Within the we led inclosure 15 is a spillvay 17 and two reservoirs 18 and 19, which reservoirs are closed at the top as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Between the reservoirs 18 and 19 are two wells 20 and 21, the former of which communicates at the bottom with the reservoir 18 by means of the passage 22 while similar passage 23 connects the bottom of the well 21 with the reservoir 19.

At the upper ends of the wells 20, 21 are floats 2%, 25 normally resting upon the supports 26 but adapted to be lifted therefrom by the water in said wells 20, 21. when saic water rises above the level of said supports 26.

These wells 20, 21 are closed at the top by means of the closures 2? through bearings in which extend the vertical rods 28, 29 secured to the floats 2+: and 25 and movable vertically therewith.

Superimposed upon the walled inclosure 15, which is preferably built of solid concrete, is a concrete housing 30 in which is located a chamber 31, the top of said housing 30 forming a support or foundation for the hydraulic air motors to be actuated by the tidal water.

Surrounding the chamber 81 and extending beyond each end thereof is a power house 32 which extends upwardly to form a chamber for the air motors 3% and the power generating devices co-acting therewith. These power generating devices form no part of the present invention and consequently are not illustrated in the drawings.

Suitable stairs 35 give access to the chamber 33. Between the reservoirs 18 and 19 are two .compartments 36 and 37 separated from each other by a solid wall 38.

The compartment 36 communicates with the basin 11 and the compartment 37 communicates with the spillway 17.

The outer ends of these compartments 36, 37 are adapted to be closed by the gates 39 and 40 respectively, said gates being slidably mounted in the passages 41, 42 provided for this purpose in the walled inclosure 15.

The gates 39 and 40 are provided with upward extensions 43, and 44 adapted to coact with suitable gate actuating devices to be hereinafter described.

The inner ends of the compartments 36, 37 communicate with the reservoirs 18, 19 by means of passages 45, 46 respectively, these passages being adapted to be closed by the sliding gates 47 48 movable vertically in the passages 50, 51 provided for this purpose in the walled inclosure 15.

The gates 47 48 are provided respectively with rack members 52, the teeth of which mesh with spur gears 54 on the revoluble shafts 55 of motors 56 positioned in the chamber 31.

Each revoluble shaft 55 on each side of the motor 56 is provided with a clutch 57 which will permit the gears 54 to be actuated in one direction only, e. in the direction to lift the rack members 52, 53.

When the rack members 52, 53 are lowered the gears 54 will be rotated thereby without affecting the motors 56.

The rack members 52, 53 actuating the gates 47 communicating with the reservoir 18 are secured to the opposite ends of a rocker lever 58 pivoted midway of its length at 59 to a standard 60.

It is obvious therefore that by this construction when one of the gates 47 is lifted the companion gate 47 will be lowered.

The rack members 52 operating the gates 48 are similarly connected to the opposite ends of the rocker lever 61 pivoted at 62 to the standard 63 so that when one of the gates 48 is raised the companion gate 48 will be lowered.

The motors 56 are actuated in pairs, the motors 56 and 56 being in one electric circuit 64 and the motor 56 and 56 being in another electric circuit 65.

The electric circuit 64, is provided with a battery 66 or some similar source of electrical energy. I11 the circuit 64 is a make-andbreak device 67, normally open, and another make-and-break device 68, normally closed.

The make-and-break device 67 is positioned so that when the float 24 reaches the top of the well 20 the member 38 projecting therefrom will actuate the device 67 to complete the circuit 64 thereby permitting the electric current from the battery 66 to flow through the motors 56 and 56 and actuate said motors 56.

The operation of the motors 56 and 56 will cause the gears 54 to lift the gate 47 controlling the flow of water from reservoir 18 to chamber 36 and at the same time lift the gate 48 controlling the flow of water from the chamber 37 to the reservoir 19.

As before stated when these gates 47 48 are lifted the companion gates 47, 48 will be lowered.

When the gates 47, 48 being lifted, have reached the limit of their upward movement, the make-and-break device 68 is actuated thereby to open the circuit 64 and pre vent the further operation of the motors 56 and 56 and consequently any further lifting of said gates. WVhile the gates 47, 48

are in this raised position the water will flow into the reservoir 19 from the basin 11 and be discharged from the reservoir 18 into the spillway 17.

The circuit is provided with a battery 69, a n1akeand-break device 70, normally opened, and a 1nake-and-break device 71, normally closed.

As soon as the water rises, in the reservoir 19, and in the well 21 communicating therewith, sufiiciently to raise the float 25 to the top of the well 21, the member 29 on the float 25 will actuate the make-a-nd-break device 70 to close the circuit 65 and actuate the motors 56, 56, and lift the discharge gate 48 of the reservoir 19 and open the inlet gate 47 of the reservoir 18.

As soon as the inlet gate 47 begins to open, the outlet gate 47 will begin to close through the actuation of the rocker lever 58 and as soon as the outlet gate begins to close the movement thereof will close the make-and-break device 68 and leave the circuit 64 in its normal condition ready to be completed by the next upward movement of the float 24.

It is obvious therefore that by means of the mechanism described, the reservoirs 18 and 19 will be successively and alternately filled and emptied of water which is admitted from the basin 11 and delivered to the spillway 17.

Each reservoir 18 and 19 is provided with an air inlet pipe 72 having a noirreturn valve 73 and each of said reservoirs is likewise provided with an air outlet pipe 74 having a non-return valve 75 therein.

hen the water is being lowered in either reservoir 18 or 19 the air will be drawn into said reservoirs, the valve 73 being open and the valve 75 being closed.

As soon as the water admitted to either reservoir begins to rise the valve 73 will be ciosed and the valve 75 opened by the air pressure in the reservoir but as the outlet pipe is of very small area relatively to the area of the surface of the water rising in the reservoirs 18, 19 it is obvious that the air will be greatly compressed and will be discharged through the pipe 7 4 under compression.

The air thus rushing through the outlet pipe, 74 is adapted to strike the blades of t e turbine, 7 6 and rotate the shaft thereof and in order to keep the turbines in continuous operation the air rushing into the reservoirs 18, 19 through the pipe, 72 is made to strike the blades of said turbine 76.

It isobvious that the turbine 7 6 will be driven continuously in one direction both when the water is being lowered in the tank 18, 19 or when the water is rising therein.

In practice, the turbines 76 of the motors would be connected so as to drive a com mon driving shaft 77 from which power may be transmitted to actuate a dynamo or other machinery, the connections between the turbines 76 and the driving shaft including a compensating device 7 8 whereby the said driving shaft 77 will be rotated at a uniform speed even when the turbines 7 6 are being rotated at different speeds.

As these devices however form no part of the present invention'it is believed that it is unnecessary to illustrate the mechanism by which this result is accomplished.

hen it is desired to stop the turbines 76, the gates 39, 40 will. be closed by means of the gate operating devices 7 9 which may be of any well known construction having gears to mesh with the teeth of the racks 43, 44.

The spillway 17 must have a capacity sufficient to take care of all the water passing through the reservoirs 18, 19 during the changes of the tide.

It is self evident that the basin 11 must be filled at high tide to the level of the water in the bay 10, the gate 13, being opened for this purpose.

Vhen the basin has been filled, the gate 13 is closed and at this time the gate 14 is also closed and the spillway 17 is empty.

The water from the basin 11 may then pass into the reservoirs 18, 19 and be discharged into the spillway 17.

When in the lowering of the tide in the bay 10, the water level is lower than the level of the water in the spillway 17, the gate 14 may be opened and the water lowered.

When the basin 11 has been emptied and the water from the bay 10 is being admitted through the gate 13 it is obvious that if the gate 14 is opened the spillway 17 will be filled more quickly than the basin 11 and when the water in said spillway reaches a higher level than the water in basin 11 the gates 39, 40 may be opened and the water from the spillway 17 may be admitted to the reservoirs 18, 19 and discharged into the basin 11 and the same results will be obtained as is obtained when the water is passing through the reservoirs in a reverse direction as already described.

Preferably the top of the reservoirs 18, 19 should be below the low water level of the basin 11 and in such a case as the rise and fall of the tide varies in different localities it is obvious that the reservoirs 18 and 19 must be lower relatively to the high water level in basin 11 in localities where there is a great rise and fall of the tide than in other localities where there is but little rise and fall to the tide.

This invention provides a very simple and eifective means of utilizing the rise and fall of the tide for creating power to drive dynamos and other machinery.

It is believed that its operation and many advantages will be readily understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an open body of water in which the tide rises and falls, a basin connected by a narrow passage with said open body of water; a dam across said passage; a gate therein; a structure provided with a spillway and a reservoir closed at the top; an air motor; and means for admitting water into said reservoir and therein compressing air adapted to actuate said motor and then discharging said water into said spillway.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an open body of water in which the tide rises and falls, a basin connected by a narrow passage with said open body of water; a dam across said passage; a gate therein; a structure provided with a spillway and a reservoir closed at the top; a passage in said dam between said spillway and open body of water; a gate in said passage; an air motor; and means for admitting water into said reservoir and therein compressing air adapted to actuate said motor and then discharging said water into said spillway.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an open body of water in which the tide rises and falls, a basin con nected by a narrow passage with said open body of water; a dam across said passage; a gate therein; a structure provided with a reservoir closed at the top; an air motor; and means for admitting water into the reservoir and therein compressing air adapted to actuate said motor.

4. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top, means for admitting water to said reservoirs alternately and compressing the air therein; motors adapted to be driven by the compressed air in said reservoirs; two wells; at float in each for controlling the operation of said gates whereby the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir are simultaneously opened.

6. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top; an inlet gate and an outlet gate to each reservoir, respectively adapted to admit water to and discharge it therefrom; air motors; means for actuating said motors by the compressed air in said reservoirs; a motor for raising one of the gates of each reservoir; and means actuated by the raising of said gate for lowering the other gate of each reservoir. I

7. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top; an inlet gate and an outlet gate to each reservoir, respectively adapted to admit water to and discharge it therefrom; air motors; means for actuating said motors by the compressed air in said reservoirs, electric motors for raising the gates, saidmotors being electrically connected in pairs to raise the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir; and means controlled bv the rise of the water in the first mentioned reservoir for raising the inlet gate of the other reservoir and the outlet gate of the first mentioned reservoir.

8. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top; an inlet gate and an outlet gate to each reservoir, respectively adapted to admit water and discharge it therefrom; air motors; means for actuating said motors by the compressed air in said reservoirs; electric motors for raising the gates," said motors being electrically connected in pairs to arise the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir; means actuated by the raising of one gate of each reservoir for lowering the other gate of sand reservoir; and means controlled by the rise of the water in the first mentioned reservoir for raising the inlet gate of the other reservoir and the outlet gate of the first mentioned reservoir.

9. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; an inlet gate and an outlet gate to each reservoir; rack members extending upwardly from each gate; an electric motor for each gate; gears coacting with said rack members and actuated by said motor in one direction only; means interposed between the two gates of each reservoir for lowering one gate by'the raising of the other gate; and means whereby said motors operate in pairs to raise the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir.

10. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; an inlet gate and an outlet gate to each reservoir; rack members extending upwardly from each gate; an electric motor for each gate; gears coacting with said rack members and actuated by said motor in one direction only; a rocker member interposed between the two gates of each reservoir and connected to the rack members thereof for lowering one gate by theraising of the other gate; and means whereby said motors operate in pairs to raise simultaneously the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir.

11. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; an inlet gate and an outlet gate for each reservoir; rack members extending upwardly from each gate; gears coacting with said rack members; an electric motor for each gate and adapted to actuate said gears; clutches between said gears and motors whereby said gears will be rotated by said motors in one direction only; means for simultaneously actuating said motors in pairs to raise the inlet gate of one reser- 100 voir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir; and means whereby in the raising of a gate of each reservoir the companion gate of said reservoir will be lowered.

12. In a device of the class described, two 05 reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; an inlet gate and an outlet gate for each reservoir; a motor for raising each gate; means whereby said gates may be lowered independently of said motors; 110 float adapted to rise and fall with the water of each reservoir; and means actuated by the float of a reservoir when it reaches a predetermined level for actuating two of said motors to raise the outlet gate of said 115 reservoir and the inlet gate of the other reservoir..

13. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; an inlet gate and an outlet 120 gate for each reservoir; a motor for raising each gate; two electric circuits each connecting the motors for raising the inlet gate of one reservoir and the outlet gate of the other reservoir; a make-and-breal: device 125 in each circuit normally open; means whereby said gates may be lowered independently of said motors; a float adapted to rise and fall with the water of each reservoir; and means on each float adapted to coact with 13C one of said make-and-break devices whereby the outlet gate of the reservoir controlling the rise and fall of a float will be raised and the inlet gate of the other reservoir will be raised simultaneously.

14. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain Water; two separated compartments between said reservoirs communicating respectively with a water basin and a spillway and by passages to the bottom of said reservoirs; gates adapted to close said pas sages; and means for simultaneously raising a gate from one compartment to one reservoir and a gate from the other compartment to the other reservoir.

15. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; two separated compartments between said reservoirs communicating respectively with a water basin and a spillway; and by passages to the bottom of said reservoirs; gates adapted to close said passages; and means for simultaneously raising a gate from one compartment to one reservoir and a gate from the other compartment to the other reservoir, and at the same time closing the other two gates.

16. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; two separated compartments between said reservoirs communicating respectively with a water basin and a spillway and by passages to the bottom of said reservoirs; gates adapted to close said passages; means for simultaneously raising a gate from one compartment to one reservoir and a gate from the other compartment to the other reservoir; and gates for closing the open ends of said compartments.

17. In a device of the class described; two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; two separated compartments between said reservoirs communicating respectively with a water basin and a spillway and by passages to the bottom of said reservoirs; gates adapted to close said passages; means for simultaneously raising a gate from one compartment to one reservoir and a gate from the other compartment to the other reservoir; gates at the open ends of said compartments; and means for raising said gates.

18. In a device of the class described, two reservoirs closed at the top and adapted to contain water; two separated compartments between said reservoirs communicating respectively with a water basin and a spillway and by passages to the bottom of said reservoirs; gates adapted to close said passages; and means for simultaneously raising a gate from one compartment to one reservoir and a gate from the other compartment to the other reservoir; gates at the open ends of said compartments; rack members extending upwardly from said gates; revoluble gears coacting with said rack members; and manually operated means for rotating said gears.

19. In a device of the class described, a reservoir closed at the top and adapted to contain water; means for admitting water to said reservoir to compress the air therein; an air motor including in part a revoluble member having radial blades; an air outlet pipe leading from the top of said reservoir and adapted to direct a current of air against said blades; and an air inlet pipe leading through the motor casing to the top of said reservoir and adapted to direct a current of air against said blades when air is being drawn into said reservoir.

20. In a device of the class described, a reservoir closed at the top and adapted to contain water; means for admitting water to said reservoir to compress the air therein; an air motor including in part a revoluble member having radial blades; an air outlet pipe leading to the casing 01": said motor and adapted to direct a current of air to strike one side oi said blades; and an air inlet pipe to the said casing and from said casing to said reservoir and adapted to direct a current of air against the same side. of said blades. a

21. In a device of the class described, a reservoir closed at the top and adapted to contain water; means for admitting water to said reservoir to compress the air therein; an air motor including in part a revoluble member having radial blades; an air outlet pipe leading to the casing of said motor and adapted to direct a current of air to strike one side of said blades; an air inlet pipe leading to the said casing and from said casing to said reservoir and adapted to direct a current of air against the same side or said blades; and a non-return valve in each of said pipes.

Signed by me at 1 Post Oflice Sq., Boston, Mass, this 13th day of August, 1919.

JOHN A. KNOWVLTON.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

